Land clearing machine

ABSTRACT

A mobile frame, preferably self-propelled, supporting for adjustable vertical pivotal movement a transverse rotary drum carrying a plurality of circumferentially and axially spaced flails. The drum is driven internally by a fluid motor supplied with a source of fluid power from the mobile frame.

United States Patent [191 Bogie 1 1 LAND CLEARING MACHINE [76] inventor:Nelson 11. Bogie, Rt. 1, Sledd Creek Rd., Gilbertsville, Ky.

[22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 188,120

[52] US. Cl 172/45, 172/123, 172/125,

56/294 [51] Int. Cl. A0lb 33/02, AOld 55/18 [58] Field of Search 172/27,28, 35, 45,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,691,262 10/ l 954Swertfeger 172/45 1,782,636 1 1/1930 Stokes 56/294 3,051,459 8/ 1962Witzenburg.....

[ Aug. 28, 1973 3,271,939 9/1966 Granger et a1 56/294 2,109,393 2/1938Bleu 172/125 1,862,035 6/1932 Rainwater 172/45 3,210,123 10/1965DelliGatti 299/89 3,557,473 l/l97l Grouklaus et a] 37/8 3,584,406 6/1971Kerehaw 172/123 3,020,694 2/1962 Foshec et a1 172/45 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Paul T. Sewell IAttorney-Harrington A. Lackey [5 7] ABSTRACT A mobile frame, preferablyself-propelled, supporting for adjustable vertical pivotal movement atransverse rotary drum carrying a plurality of circumferentially andaxially spaced flails. The drum is driven internally by a fluid motorsupplied with a source of fluid power from the mobile frame.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,603

INVENTOR:

A ORNEY LAND CLEARING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a land clearing machine, and more particularly to a mobileland clearing machine having. rotary flails.

Land clearing machines having rotary flails are known in the art. Onesuch type of rotary flail machine is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No.2,691,262, issued to Swertfeger on Oct. 12, I954. Swertfegers machineincludes a self-propelled traction vehicle, upon which is mounted aframe for pivotal movement about a central transverse axis. On the frontof the frame is a rotary drum supporting a plurality of chain-typeflails, driven through a belt-and-pulley transmission from an auxiliarytransmission engine mounted on the rear of the frame. Front wheels aremounted externally on the frame and provided with fluid cylinders forvertically adjusting the frame relative to the wheels in order to adjustthe operating level of the flails. The frame may also be raised orlowered by another hydraulic cylinder mounted on the vehicle.

Because of the external transmission and drive of the rotary drum,special deflector shields must be mounted on the rotary drum shaft inorder to protect the pulley and other transmission parts from therapidly revolving flails. Moreover, because of the heavy drive andtransmission elements employed, the motor is mounted on the rear of theframe in order to counter-balance the weight of the drum about thetransverse pivotal axis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a rotary-flail-type land clearing machine, which is not onlyself-propelled, but provides a light-weight drive and transmissionmechanism which does not require counterbalancing weights or unnecessaryextension of the transmission elements inorder to balance the loads.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hollow, rotary,flail-supporting drum having sufl'icient interior space to receive asmall, fluid drive mechanism. Such an arrangement provides completeprotection for the drive mechanism, including a fluid motor andtransmission'parts, from damage by the flails, and flying debris.Furthermore, the vertically adjustable frame for supporting the rotarydrum, flails and fluid motor may be located entirely in front of themobile frame.

' The yoke frame supporting the drum and flails is long enough, to spanthe overall width of the mobile frame, so that the flails will clearapath through which the entire mobile frame and traction members maymove, unimpeded. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a land clearing machineemploying a single hydraulic system for supplying all the power forpropelling and guiding the mobile frame, driving the rotary flail drum,and also for vertically adjusting the drum.

, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F IG.'3 is an enlarged fragmentaryplan view of the rotary drum and one of its flails;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the land clearing machine disclosed in FIG. 1,with a modified mobile frame and yoke frame.

I DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsin more detail, FIG. 1 and 2 disclose a land clearing machine having amobile frame ll supported for movement along the ground by front wheels12 and 13 and a steerable rear wheel 14. Each front wheel 12 and I3 isindependently driven by a hydraulic motor 15 and 16, respectively, whilerear wheel 14 is steered by a hydraulic steering mechanism 17. Thehydraulic power for the motors l5 and 16 and steering mechanism 17 issupplied with hydraulic fluid through lines, not shown, from a hydraulicpump 18 driven by diesel engine 19 mounted on the mobile frame 11. Thecontrols for operating the motors 15 and 16, steering mechanism 17 andall the other apparatus to be later described, are mounted within thecontrol cabin 20.

Mounted on the front end of the mobile frame 11 is a yoke frame 22having an elongated back member 23 and a pair of forwardly projectingend members 24 and 25.

Fixed to and projecting rearward of the back member 23 are a pair oflower arms 26, the rear ends of which are joumaled by hinge pins 27 tocorresponding tongues 28 projecting forward from the front end of theframe 11.

Pivotally mounted by the hinge pins 29 to the tongues 28 are a pair ofupwardly directed link arms 30. The upper ends of the link arms 30 arepivotally connected by pins 31 to link bars 32, the forward ends ofwhich are joumaled by hinge pins 33 to journal ears 34 fixed to the backmember 23 of the yoke frame 22, spaced above the lower arms 26. Asdisclosed in FIG. 2, each link arm 30 and corresponding link-bar 32 forma knee joint. at the hinge pin 31. Each hinge pin 31 is also connectedto a piston rod 35 reciprocably driven bya hydraulic cylinder 36. I

Joumaled for rotary movement between the front ends of the end members24 and 25 is ,a hollow rotary flail drum 38. Projecting axially into thedrumfrom the end member 24 is a fixed journal shaft 39. The shaft 39 isjoumaled within bearings 40 and 41 forming a part of the drum 38.

Fixed to the end member 25 is a hollow shaft 43 about which theopposite, or left, end of the drum 38 is joumaled by bearing 44 fixed inthe end of the drum 38. Fixed to the inner end of the hollow shaft 43 isa fluid motor, such as hydraulic motor 45. The drive shaft 46 ofhydraulic motor is connected by coupling 47 to a driven member 48 in theform of a disc fixed coaxially within the drum 38. The driven discmember 48 is secured by bonding or fastening its periphery to the innersurface of the drum 38, preferably uniformly, so that the torqueproduced by the hydraulic motor 45 will be evenly distributed andtransmitted to the drum surface 38.

Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic motor 45 through fluidconduits or lines 50 from pump 18 on the mobile frame 11.

Fixed to the outer surface of the hollow rotary drum 38 by ears 52 andconnecting bolts 53 are a plurality of flexible flails 55, disclosed inthe drawings as including a chain 56 and a flail head or bar 57. Eachflail bar 57 is preferably flat and rectangular and has a hole 58 ateach end. By periodically removing the flail connector 59, the flail bar57 may be reversed end for end, as well as being rotated 180 about itslongitudinal axis, that is rotated side for side, in order to obtain themaximum utility from each flail bar 57. Rotating each flail bar 57 endfor end or edge for edge, the flail bar 57 may be used three or fourtimes longer than if it remained in the same position.

The flails 55 may be arranged circumferentially as well as axially ofthe drum 38 in any desired pattern. As disclosed in the drawings, fourflails 55 are arranged at 90 intervals in cross-sectional planes spacedaxially at preferably uniform intervals, along the drum 38.

The yoke frame 22 is preferably provided with an arcuate hood 60 inorder to protect the operator, control cabin 20 and all other parts ofthe mobile frame 11 from flying debris, and also from any flails 55which might accidentally become detached from the drum 38.

The land clearing machine 65, disclosed in FIG. 5, employs a mobileframe 66 supported on crawler traction elements 67. The yoke frame 68has rearward projecting arms 69 behind the back member 70, which arejournaled about trunnions 71 and supported by hydraulic cylinders 72 forraising and lowering. The yoke frame 68 supports for rotary movement aflail drum 38' identical to the flail drum 38 in the machine andsupporting flails 55 for breaking and decimating debris in advance ofthe moving machine 65. The rotary drum 38' is driven by the sameinternal elements included in the rotary drum 38. The internal hydraulicmotor, not shown, identical to the hydraulic motor 45 is supplied withfluid through the lines 50' from hydraulic pump 18' mounted on the frontof the mobile frame 66.

In the operation of the machine 10, the hydraulic cylinders 36 arepowered to raise or lower the yoke frame 22 to its desired operatingelevation. The wheel motors l5 and 16 are powered to drive the wheels 12and 13 forward, and hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic motor45 in order to drive the rotary drum 38 in either desired direction. Theflails 55 rotate about the axis of rotary drum 38 at great speeds tobeat, break, level and decimate brush, weedsand debris into smallerparticles, or to knock them flat upon the ground in order to level thesurface of the terrain over which the mobile frame 11 travels. By havingthe yoke frame 22 extend transversely in front of the front wheels 12and '13, the wheels 12 and 13 will be protected against unnecessaryencounters with brush and debris not otherwise encountered by the highspeed flails 55. The yoke frame 68 and flail drum 38' of the machine 65operate in the same manner as their counterparts in machine 10.

FIGS. l and 2 illustrate the small number of elements employed and thesmall amount of space utilized by the yoke frame 22, its adjustablemounting means 26-36, as well as the drive and transmission elements45-48 for the rotary drum 38. All of these parts can be small andrelatively lightweight and yet possess the optimum amount of strengthfor carrying out their rugged functions.

It will be further observed that all of the mechanisms, specifically themotor 45, coupling device 47 and driven disc member 48 are locatedentirely within the protective hollow rotary drum 38. Thus the drive andtransmission elements are protected not only from damage by flails 55,but also from all of the debris encountered by the flails 55. The onlyparts of the drive and transmission elements exterior of the drum 38 isthe extension of the hollow shaft 43 and fluid lines 50 which lead tothe pump 18.

It will also be observed that all of the power elements arehydraulically driven from a single source, namely, pump 18. Thehydraulic motor 45 drives the flail drum 38. The yoke frame 22 is raisedand lowered by hydraulic cylinders 36. The mobile frame 11 is driven bywheel motors l5 and 16 and steered by the hydraulic steering mechanism17.

What is claimed is:

1. A land clearing machine comprising:

a. an elongated mobile frame having a front end and a rear end,

b. ground engaging endless traction members mounted on each side of saidmobile frame,

c. drive means on said mobile frame for driving said traction members,

d. a yoke frame having forwardly projecting, spaced end members,

e. means mounting said yoke frame on the front end of said mobile framefor vertically adjustable movement relative to said mobile frame, saidend members being spaced transversely of said mobile frame,

f. hydraulic means on said mobile frame for raising and lowering saidyoke frame,

g. an elongated drum,

h. a plurality of flails, one end of each flail bein'g fixed to theexterior surface of said drum at a predetermined location for rotationwith said drum,

i. journal means supporting the opposite ends of said drum on therespective end members for rotary movement about an axis transverse to,and in front of, said mobile frame,

j. a hydraulic motor,

k. means mounting said hydraulic motor within said drum and fixedrelative to one of said end members,

l. drive coupling means within said drum connecting said motor to saiddrum,

m. a hydraulic pump on said frame,

n. a hydraulic fluid circuit connecting said pump to said motor throughsaid journal means for driving said motor.

1 2. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a hollowshaft fixed to one of said end members and projecting coaxially withinthe corresponding end of said drum, said journal means comprisingbearing means on said one end of said drum journaled about said shaft,said fluid circuit extending through said hollow shaft.

3. The invention according to claim I in which said drive coupling meanscomprises a driven member fixed to the interior of said drum, a driveshaft driven by'said hydraulic motor, and a connector coupling saiddrive shaft to said driven member.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which said yoke frame comprisesan elongated back member extending transversely of said mobile frame,said yoke frame mounting means comprising a pair of lower arms fixed tosaid back member and projecting rearward, pin means connecting saidlower arms to the front of said mobile frame for pivotal movement abouta transverse axis, upper pin means fixed to said back member above yokeframe is greater than the transverse spacing between said tractionmembers.

6. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a hydraulictraction motor operatively connected to each traction member for drivingsaid traction member, and means for supplying hydraulic fluid from saidpump to each of said traction motors.

1. A land clearing machine comprising: a. an elongated mobile framehaving a front end and a rear end, b. ground engaging endless tractionmembers mounted on each side of said mobile frame, c. drive means onsaid mobile frame for driving said traction members, d. a yoke framehaving forwardly projecting, spaced end members, e. means mounting saidyoke frame on the fRont end of said mobile frame for verticallyadjustable movement relative to said mobile frame, said end membersbeing spaced transversely of said mobile frame, f. hydraulic means onsaid mobile frame for raising and lowering said yoke frame, g. anelongated drum, h. a plurality of flails, one end of each flail beingfixed to the exterior surface of said drum at a predetermined locationfor rotation with said drum, i. journal means supporting the oppositeends of said drum on the respective end members for rotary movementabout an axis transverse to, and in front of, said mobile frame, j. ahydraulic motor, k. means mounting said hydraulic motor within said drumand fixed relative to one of said end members, l. drive coupling meanswithin said drum connecting said motor to said drum, m. a hydraulic pumpon said frame, n. a hydraulic fluid circuit connecting said pump to saidmotor through said journal means for driving said motor.
 2. Theinvention according to claim 1 further comprising a hollow shaft fixedto one of said end members and projecting coaxially within thecorresponding end of said drum, said journal means comprising bearingmeans on said one end of said drum journaled about said shaft, saidfluid circuit extending through said hollow shaft.
 3. The inventionaccording to claim 1 in which said drive coupling means comprises adriven member fixed to the interior of said drum, a drive shaft drivenby said hydraulic motor, and a connector coupling said drive shaft tosaid driven member.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 in which saidyoke frame comprises an elongated back member extending transversely ofsaid mobile frame, said yoke frame mounting means comprising a pair oflower arms fixed to said back member and projecting rearward, pin meansconnecting said lower arms to the front of said mobile frame for pivotalmovement about a transverse axis, upper pin means fixed to said backmember above said lower arms, upper link means comprising a knee jointpivotally connecting said mobile frame to said upper pin means, saidmeans for raising and lowering said yoke frame comprising a linearhydraulic motor connecting the mobile frame to said knee joint, andmeans for supplying hydraulic fluid from said pump to said linear motor.5. The invention according to claim 1 in which the transverse distancebetween the end members of said yoke frame is greater than thetransverse spacing between said traction members.
 6. The inventionaccording to claim 1 further comprising a hydraulic traction motoroperatively connected to each traction member for driving said tractionmember, and means for supplying hydraulic fluid from said pump to eachof said traction motors.